The ranking reflects a year that saw Ronaldo collect winner’s medals from the Champions League and Euro, while finishing as top scorer in the former and Silver Boot laureate a second-placed prize for goals and assists combined in the latter. Ronaldo scored times in the calendar year. He was the headline player in two contrasting European champion teams: one steely underdogs; the other preening overdog. Throughout he performed with undying efficiency in his favoured attacking areas, a marvel of the sporting age who turns in two months’ time but remains an acme of preening, packed athletic perfection.There are some notable trends further down the list. Players at Spanish clubs occupy the top six spots. Spain is also the most heavily represented nation for the fifth year in a row, ahead of France who surge up into joint second with Brazil. Ten Germans make the cut. Euro champs Portugal have seven players, up from just one last year. England have four top one fewer than Belgium, one more than Uruguay. Wayne Rooney, the control in that Ronaldo experiment, drops out of the list for the first time. Rooney received two votes this year.Andorra’s Jordi Rubio was dismissed in the minute and Marc Rebés followed nine minutes later, both for fouls on Ronaldo.

Ronaldo opened his account after seconds, driving the ball home after Andorra failed to clear a corner, and headed home Ricardo Quaresma’s cross in the fourth minute. José Fonte was brilliantly denied by the Andorra goalkeeper, Josep Gómes, André Silva hit the bar and Ronaldo was close with another header before João Cancelo added Portugal’s third in the minute. The European champions, Portugal, suffered a defeat away to Switzerland in their opening World Cup Group B qualifier. Breel Embolo headed the Swiss in front at St Jakob-Park on minutes, before Admir Mehmedi fired in a second on the half-hour. Fernando Santos’ side, missing Cristiano Ronaldo who has just returned to training with Real Madrid after limping out of the Euro final because of a knee injury, failed to mount a recovery and are next in action at home to Andorra in October. All awards are, of course, a matter of opinion. The Guardian top is at least a broad and impartial church. This year votes were drawn from an expanded panel of judges based in countries, from a diverse portfolio of eminent former professionals including Javier Zanetti, Hernan Crespo and Faustino Asprilla to a selection of football broadcasters and journalists from all across the globe. At the end of which Ronaldo beat Messi to top spot by a nose on the overall scoring system, with Antoine Griezmann a way back in third. Ronaldo completed his hat-trick two minutes after the restart when he volleyed in an André Gomes cross and scored his fourth in the minute after Fonte headed Quaresma’s cross into his path. André Silva added the sixth with a deflected shot. In Group H a brace of goals from the Everton forward Romelu Lukaku helped secure a win in Cyprus for the new Belgium manager Roberto Martínez. The former Everton manager saw his side beaten by Spain in Brussels last week but they delivered the required performance in Nicosia.

Greece extended their lead with two more quick goals before half-time through Kostas Fortounis and Vassilis Torosidis. In Tuesday night’s other Group B fixtures, Latvia won in Andorra with a header from Valerijs Sabala at the start of the second half while the Faroe Islands held Hungary to a goalless draw in Torshavn. Albania snatched a late win over Macedonia as they resumed the Group G qualifier which was abandoned due to torrential rain in Shkoder on Monday. As the teams played out the final quarter of an hour, with the scores level, Bekim Balaj netted with a minute left when he glanced in from a free-kick to secure all three points for Albania. Lukaku, who played for Martínez at Goodison Park, put the visitors in front on minutes with a diving header and produced another close-range finish to nod in a second on the hour. Yannick Carrasco slotted in a third with nine minutes left, converting a pass from Chelsea’s Eden Hazard. As ever polls like this raise questions about the role of the individual in what remains, for all the most energetic efforts of the marketeers, a team sport. The enduring beauty of football lies in the density of its patterns, the fine-point push and pull of team-play, the chemistry of tactics and systems.Sweden started life after Zlatan Ibrahimovic with a draw against Holland in their Group A match at the Friends Arena. Holland had dominated large spells of the first half but found themselves behind on minutes when Marcus Berg chipped the ball over the goalkeeper from the edge of the penalty area. The Dutch levelled on minutes when their captain, Wesley Sneijder, slotted in after Daryl Janmaat’s shot was saved and thought they had won it in stoppage time with a header from the substitute Bas Dost, which was ruled out for what looked minimal contact with the defender. Bulgaria went ahead through Dimitar Rangelov on minutes but found themselves fighting back with a goal from Marcelinho and a free-kick by Ivelin Popov before Bohnert’s late strike and then Aleksandar Tonev sparked wild celebrations from the home supporters. Bosnia-Herzegovina got their Group H campaign off to a winning start with a comfortable win over Estonia in Zenica. Emir Spahic headed the hosts in front with the Roma striker Edin Dzeko adding a second from the penalty spot. Further goals from Haris Medunjanin, Vedad Ibisevic and a second by Spahic in stoppage time completed the rout. Still though the eye is drawn to the headline acts. Predictably enough the top are all attackers, with Luka Modric the first midfielder to appear, and Diego Godín and Sergio Ramos the top ranked defenders at and respectively. Like Ronaldo, Pepe of Portugal and Real Madrid was also a major part of those Champions League and Euro-winning teams. Pepe was also in Uefa’s Euro team of the tournament. But here he slots in our poll, just behind Mesut Özil.

Roy Keane had called for a war but what he got was bloody awful until, that’s, Jon Walters stormed to Irelandâs rescue five minutes from time. Whether the same can be said for this Austria team remains to be viewed. They face Portugal in Paris on Saturday and Koller knows he’s a job on his hands to repair the damage, which was mental in addition to physical. Marko Arnautovic held his head in his hands at the end and Junuzovic, who needed to be withdrawn in the 2nd half and came in for some rough treatment, departed the stadium on crutches. Austria also would have increased their lead if not for a fine save by Randolph and rode that storm. Walters struck as the visitors sensed a victory. It was the striker marauding on to a punt by Randolph, classic Walters, outmuscling Dragovic and walloping the bouncing ball into the bottom corner from yards. Nevertheless, David FernÃ¡ndez BorbalÃ¡n, the Spanish referee, reckoned there had been a shove on the goalkeeper. The match is taking place at the Ernst Happel Stadion, which is where his Wales debut was marked by Coleman using a goal.

Adam Szalai isn’t prolific. Hungaryâs managed to go during the whole of last season without scoring for both the clubs he represented Hoffenheim and Hannover and he came into this tournament with no goal because of his country since October. It’s something which has rarely been seen in a Wales shirt, certainly with Bale, although Taylor was quick to highlight a goal that his team-mate created for Jermain Defoe while playing for Tottenham Hotspur against Stevenage. Gareth has had that throw, Swansea and the Wales full-back said. Does no one remember he threw it from the halfway line and someone was in on goal when he did it for Tottenham? The plan worked to perfection when the pair combined on the stroke of half- Kevin Wimmer and time ended up turning the ball into his own net. Koller said that Gareth Bale tightly will be marked by Roy Keane had called for a war but what he got was bloody awful until, that’s, Jon Walters stormed to Irelandâs rescue five minutes from time. Whether the same can be said for this Austria team remains to be viewed. They face Portugal in Paris on Saturday and Koller knows he’s a job on his hands to repair the damage, which was mental in addition to physical. Marko Arnautovic held his head in his hands at the end and Junuzovic, who needed to be withdrawn in the 2nd half and came in for some rough treatment, departed the stadium on crutches. Austria also would have increased their lead if not for a fine save by Randolph and rode that storm. Walters struck as the visitors sensed a victory. It was the striker marauding on to a punt by Randolph, classic Walters, outmuscling Dragovic and walloping the bouncing ball into the bottom corner from yards. Nevertheless, David FernÃ¡ndez BorbalÃ¡n, the Spanish referee, reckoned there had been a shove on the goalkeeper. The match is taking place at the Ernst Happel Stadion, which is where his Wales debut was marked by Coleman using a goal. sbobet casino

Adam Szalai isn’t prolific. Hungaryâs managed to go during the whole of last season without scoring for both the clubs he represented Hoffenheim and Hannover and he came into this tournament with no goal because of his country since October. It’s something which has rarely been seen in a Wales shirt, certainly with Bale, although Taylor was quick to highlight a goal that his team-mate created for Jermain Defoe while playing for Tottenham Hotspur against Stevenage. Gareth has had that throw, Swansea and the Wales full-back said. Does no one remember he threw it from the halfway line and someone was in on goal when he did it for Tottenham? The plan worked to perfection when the pair combined on the stroke of half- Kevin Wimmer and time ended up turning the ball into his own net. Koller said that Gareth Bale tightly will be marked by Austria. We WOn’t have one player on him, we’ll have three or two players in close vicinity for minutes to try to disturb him but Coleman has no qualms about those tactics. Thatâs normal, thatâs what he faces every week with Madrid and with us. We played Ronaldo and Hazard and you’ll be able to work as much as you like and shut them out for minutes but in a split second they are able to change everything. Thatâs what Bale can do. Dublin looked a picture under a glowing sun but it was defaced by this match in the first half. With touches that are clunky wayward passes and negligible imagination it was grisly viewing until Austria scored with a goal of quality that is incongruous. The visitors had offered a smidgin more neatness in relation to the hosts in the opening half an hour. It came from a corner. Sebastian PrÃ¶dl and Aleksandar Dragovic flummoxed the Irish defence by letting the ball run past them and over to Hinteregger near the penalty spot. He took one touch before firing past Darren Randolph. There clearly was no immediate trace of an Irish riposte. Jeff Hendrick and Robbie Brady can be relied on to serve up a measure of creativity but both were sloppy, Brady ineffective from the correct wing and Hendrick offering meagre invention in an advanced central role. The game was crying out for Wes Hoolahan on the bench. We thought it was something we’d use and get a goal from Taylor and talked about it before the Austria game. Itâs not nice to play against, itâs a horrible thing to cope with ask Tony Pulis at Stoke. So it gives us another weapon in our armoury. We need to keep finding different ways to score and I think thatâs massive for all of us. Yet everything fell into place in the minute, when he ran in the arms of the Hungary supporters to cherish a feeling which was long overdue and nicked the ball past Robert Almer. It was his first goal in appearances. With Wales and Serbia in the running Group D looks likely to go down to the wire and Ireland can take confidence from this demonstration of their ability.

For Hungary, that are making their first appearance at a European Championship finals it’s a dream start. For their neighbours, that came into this tournament with such high expectations and are ranked in the world, it’s the stuff of nightmares. They peaked after seconds when David Alaba struck the upright with a left-foot shot. Thereafter Austria never imposed themselves against a well. Whatever they lack, their determination is bottomless. No one personifies it better than Walters. Jonâs not the quickest but heâs got a real knowledge of the game plus a really great will, OâNeill said. He’s invaluable to us. You may see we were playing with the chances we were giving in their hands and they were pressing and in the last minutes we started playing more direct British to speak. The fragments of class came from Austria. The visitors forged a chance to increase their lead when Alaba drove through midfield before charging into the box and flipping the ball wide to the dangerous Florian Kainz. Ireland improved. They cranked up the intensity and delivered better and more balls into the box. It did surprise them, itâs not nice, it causes chaos, it can work from time to time. I’m not saying we’ll use it in every game, maybe we wonât need to and there’ll be other games we’re on top with all the football within our feet and creating chances. Against Austria we werenât and we needed to use it. While the point that Wales picked up against Austria, the second- highest may be viewed as crucial, it came at a cost. Heinz Lindner, the goalkeeper, came to his rescue. What it was for Gabor Kiraly, the former Crystal Palace goalkeeper who celebrated becoming the oldest player to feature in the European Championship finals using a clean sheet as well as a victory. Days and aged years, Kiraly wore those familiar grey complete with muddy knees, tracksuit bottoms, as well as the excellent one-handed save he produced in the first half to deny Zlatko Junuzovic suggested there’s plenty of life left in him.

Austria. We WOn’t have one player on him, we’ll have three or two players in close vicinity for minutes to try to disturb him but Coleman has no qualms about those tactics. Thatâs normal, thatâs what he faces every week with Madrid and with us. We played Ronaldo and Hazard and you’ll be able to work as much as you like and shut them out for minutes but in a split second they are able to change everything. Thatâs what Bale can do. Dublin looked a picture under a glowing sun but it was defaced by this match in the first half. With touches that are clunky wayward passes and negligible imagination it was grisly viewing until Austria scored with a goal of quality that is incongruous. The visitors had offered a smidgin more neatness in relation to the hosts in the opening half an hour. It came from a corner. Sebastian PrÃ¶dl and Aleksandar Dragovic flummoxed the Irish defence by letting the ball run past them and over to Hinteregger near the penalty spot. He took one touch before firing past Darren Randolph. There clearly was no immediate trace of an Irish riposte. Jeff Hendrick and Robbie Brady can be relied on to serve up a measure of creativity but both were sloppy, Brady ineffective from the correct wing and Hendrick offering meagre invention in an advanced central role. The game was crying out for Wes Hoolahan on the bench. We thought it was something we’d use and get a goal from Taylor and talked about it before the Austria game. Itâs not nice to play against, itâs a horrible thing to cope with ask Tony Pulis at Stoke. So it gives us another weapon in our armoury. We need to keep finding different ways to score and I think thatâs massive for all of us. Yet everything fell into place in the minute, when he ran in the arms of the Hungary supporters to cherish a feeling which was long overdue and nicked the ball past Robert Almer. It was his first goal in appearances. With Wales and Serbia in the running Group D looks likely to go down to the wire and Ireland can take confidence from this demonstration of their ability.

For Hungary, that are making their first appearance at a European Championship finals it’s a dream start. For their neighbours, that came into this tournament with such high expectations and are ranked in the world, it’s the stuff of nightmares. They peaked after seconds when David Alaba struck the upright with a left-foot shot. Thereafter Austria never imposed themselves against a well. Whatever they lack, their determination is bottomless. No one personifies it better than Walters. Jonâs not the quickest but heâs got a real knowledge of the game plus a really great will, OâNeill said. He’s invaluable to us. You may see we were playing with the chances we were giving in their hands and they were pressing and in the last minutes we started playing more direct British to speak. The fragments of class came from Austria. The visitors forged a chance to increase their lead when Alaba drove through midfield before charging into the box and flipping the ball wide to the dangerous Florian Kainz. Ireland improved. They cranked up the intensity and delivered better and more balls into the box. It did surprise them, itâs not nice, it causes chaos, it can work from time to time. I’m not saying we’ll use it in every game, maybe we wonât need to and there’ll be other games we’re on top with all the football within our feet and creating chances. Against Austria we werenât and we needed to use it. While the point that Wales picked up against Austria, the second- highest may be viewed as crucial, it came at a cost. Heinz Lindner, the goalkeeper, came to his rescue. What it was for Gabor Kiraly, the former Crystal Palace goalkeeper who celebrated becoming the oldest player to feature in the European Championship finals using a clean sheet as well as a victory. Days and aged years, Kiraly wore those familiar grey complete with muddy knees, tracksuit bottoms, as well as the excellent one-handed save he produced in the first half to deny Zlatko Junuzovic suggested there’s plenty of life left in him.

I think of overcoming my limits, Neymar said. First of all I think about pushing the limits, and I want to help my team, always of goals and games. I’m happy for this particular moment, not only mine, but in addition my team-mates. We’re achieving our goals, which is reach and to win the World Cup. In a letter to the presidents Infantino acknowledged that some men from North Korea, whose working conditions are appalling, were deployed to work in the Zenit Arena in St Petersburg. In a blanket statement in response to questions about the use of North Korean labour, Fifa told the Observer it also would continue to follow up any allegations and monitored conditions for migrant workers. Infantino acknowledged in his letter there had been incompliances relating to safety and health five workers have died in accidents timely payment of accommodation and salaries in the site. The presidents of the Icelandic, Danish, Norwegian and Swedish FAs wrote to Infantino raising their concerns following in-depth reportage.

The St Petersburg construction committee said the authorities had conducted regular inspections to make sure conditions at the Zenit Arena site. But according to the subcontractor, North Koreans at the site worked hours a day, seven days a week. They earned less than other migrant workers but lived in cramped conditions, six to eight workers sharing one construction caravan. The North Korean had died from a heart attack, the subcontractor said. He added that fatigue was a danger. You can get hurt out of the blue like that when you lose your reaction time on account of fatigue. Juan Carlos Arce, the Paraguay coach, was critical of the referee, Victor Carrillo, following the game. The refereeing was bad today, he said. It’s a shame Brazil doesn’t need it. Argentina dropped down the standings after losing away at high altitude in La Paz, weakened by the absence of Messi as he began a four-match suspension to Bolivia. The subcontractor said another five had died including the North Korean between August and December. In a statement, Fifa said it continues to monitor all World Cup construction in Russia, adding that no further evidence was found of North Korean workers on any sites. These activities are part of a broader effort by Fifa enhance and to systematise its activities to ensure respect for human rights throughout its operations, the statement read. The five-times world player of the year was banned less than six hours before kick-off for swearing at a linesman in the previous match, a win over Chile. He’ll now be available only for the last of Argentinaâs games, a potentially key match in Ecuador.

That in itself wasn’t enough to confirm their participation in Russia but Peruâs surprise win over Uruguay in a later game guaranteed Brazil a top-four finish. Migrant workers were interviewed by the Josimar report from other countries who said they been underpaid, in cash and had worked long hours in dismal conditions at the Zenit Arena. The St Petersburg construction committee didn’t respond to a request for comment about costs. Even with the huge spending, Fifa reportedly found last year the Zenit Arenaâs removable pitch didn’t meet its shock absorption standards. Subsequent to the general contractor was fired by the city over cost overruns and delays, the vice-governor Albin managed to gather more than workers at the site for a final push to finish it. That’s when North Korean workers were brought in by three companies, the subcontractor said. With four rounds of fixtures points have been by Brazil, followed by Chile, Uruguay and Colombia. Argentina are in -ranked Oceania region side. Argentina and Uruguay still must face each other which means it’s impossible for both to overtake Brazil. Liverpoolâs Philippe Coutinho curled in a low opener for Brazil and Neymar capped an eventful evening using a goal in the next half before Marcelo added a late third in SÃ£o Paulo. My greatest joy is sharing joy, Tite said in quotes reported by espn.com.br. Sharing joy is my greatest satisfaction when you see the players happy, when you see a happy little child when you look in the face of your family. In his letter to the four FA presidents Monday that was dated Infantino condemns the appalling labour conditions under which North Korean workers are employed in several countries round the world and said: Fifa is aware of. He acknowledged an inspection team for Fifaâs Decent Work Monitoring System set up to address concerns about human rights abuses, did find Strong evidence for the presence of North Korean workers in St Petersburg on a visit in November on the construction site. The issues found were raised with the general contractor and with the respective company, Infantino wrote. The Barcelona forward Neymar, captaining the side, missed a penalty and saw an effort chalked off for offside on an evening when he was from the Paraguay defenders on the end of rough treatment. situs judi bola